What do we not know about probiotics?
If you've read our latest article, you probably already know what probiotics are. For new readers we will remind:
Probiotics are those good bacteria that accompany us from birth. They most often inhabit the intestines, but can also be found in the mouth, urogenital tract and skin. Maintaining the required percentage of good bacteria in the body helps better digestion and absorption of nutrients, the production of useful bioactive substances such as vitamins, suppression and elimination of pathogenic microorganisms from the intestinal mucosa and much more.
But what do we not know about probiotics? In this article we will give useful advice and answer some of the most frequently asked questions when using a probiotic.
1. When should we use a probiotic?
• During antibiotic treatment;
• To maintain or restore balance in the gastrointestinal tract;
• With pain and discomfort in the stomach;
• For diarrhea, constipation or other stomach upsets;
• When following a diet or diet to lose weight;
• With a weakened immune system;
• In case of fatigue or exhaustion during and after illness;
2. How to choose the right probiotic?
First, to choose the right probiotic, you need to be aware of the health benefits of each probiotic and be sure that it will have a positive effect on your ailment or problem. It should also be borne in mind that not every bacterial or lactic acid bacterial culture is a probiotic.
Probiotic products contain strains - different strains have different effects on our body, it is good to know what strains each probiotic carries. Quality probiotics label a strain of the respective species on the label. The combination of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria is recommended.
It is also good to know how many live bacteria the probiotic of your choice contains and whether they are enough. The recommended number is a minimum of 8-10 billion live probiotic bacteria from different strains. The more the better.
Last but not least, make sure that the probiotic product capsules are strong enough and will not be broken down by stomach acids.
3. How to take probiotics?
Taking unprotected probiotics (direct intake of the probiotic substance or taking a probiotic in gelatin or HPMC capsules with rapid disintegration) is recommended during or after a meal. The reason is related to the pH values in an empty and full stomach.
The pH values on an empty stomach vary in the range of 1-3, but are usually closer to 2. These values are highly aggressive to bacteria. When there is food in the stomach, the pH rises and can reach values in the range of 4-5. The latter are less stressful for bacteria. This will increase their survival when passing through the stomach and will optimize their effect.
There are studies in Beneficial Microbes that find that probiotics taken up to 30 minutes after a meal or during a meal survive in much higher numbers than probiotics taken 30 minutes after a meal.
/Probiotics encapsulated in DR (acid resistant) capsules can also be taken on an empty stomach, as these capsules have a delayed release and provide protection for bacteria when passing through the stomach.
Take with high-fat foods. Immediately after that, avoid hot drinks such as tea, coffee, hot water, hot soups.
For dosing, it is advisable to adhere to the prescribed treatment, if you have one, otherwise follow the manufacturer's instructions described in the product leaflet.
4. Taking a probiotic with an antibiotic?
If you are about to be treated with an antibiotic, you also need to arm yourself with a probiotic. The earlier you start taking it, the better. Antibiotic products have a destructive effect on the "good" bacteria in the gastrointestinal microflora. Their absence creates a favorable environment for the development of harmful microorganisms that weaken the immune system, which can lead to other diseases. Probiotics restore the intestinal mucosa, making our body more resistant to any harmful external influences.
It is contraindicated to take the probiotic and the antibiotic at the same time, as the antibiotics will kill the live bacteria and the effect of taking the probiotic will be almost zero.
Take the probiotic product 2-3 hours after the antibiotic. It is advisable to continue the probiotic course for at least one week after stopping the antibiotic.
5. Storage of probiotics.
Always read the instructions on the package before buying a probiotic product - some are stored in the refrigerator, others are not, and it is important to know this. However, although some strains are not sensitive to heat, try to keep the product cool.
It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the shelf life of the probiotic to make sure you are buying a "fresh" product. Usually the term is about 1-2 years. Moving away from the date of production, the number of live bacteria decreases.
In summary, be careful and always read the packaging of the probiotic product when you decide to buy one. If you suffer from diseases or are about to undergo individual treatment, be sure to consult with your doctor about taking probiotics.
Buy durable capsules and watch for the correct intake and dosage.
For more interesting and useful articles related to probiotics and the health of the intestinal flora, follow the Laktina blog, where we will try to be as useful and comprehensive as possible for our readers.
Back
Probiotics are those good bacteria that accompany us from birth. They most often inhabit the intestines, but can also be found in the mouth, urogenital tract and skin. Maintaining the required percentage of good bacteria in the body helps better digestion and absorption of nutrients, the production of useful bioactive substances such as vitamins, suppression and elimination of pathogenic microorganisms from the intestinal mucosa and much more.
But what do we not know about probiotics? In this article we will give useful advice and answer some of the most frequently asked questions when using a probiotic.
1. When should we use a probiotic?
• During antibiotic treatment;
• To maintain or restore balance in the gastrointestinal tract;
• With pain and discomfort in the stomach;
• For diarrhea, constipation or other stomach upsets;
• When following a diet or diet to lose weight;
• With a weakened immune system;
• In case of fatigue or exhaustion during and after illness;
2. How to choose the right probiotic?
First, to choose the right probiotic, you need to be aware of the health benefits of each probiotic and be sure that it will have a positive effect on your ailment or problem. It should also be borne in mind that not every bacterial or lactic acid bacterial culture is a probiotic.
Probiotic products contain strains - different strains have different effects on our body, it is good to know what strains each probiotic carries. Quality probiotics label a strain of the respective species on the label. The combination of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria is recommended.
It is also good to know how many live bacteria the probiotic of your choice contains and whether they are enough. The recommended number is a minimum of 8-10 billion live probiotic bacteria from different strains. The more the better.
Last but not least, make sure that the probiotic product capsules are strong enough and will not be broken down by stomach acids.
3. How to take probiotics?
Taking unprotected probiotics (direct intake of the probiotic substance or taking a probiotic in gelatin or HPMC capsules with rapid disintegration) is recommended during or after a meal. The reason is related to the pH values in an empty and full stomach.
The pH values on an empty stomach vary in the range of 1-3, but are usually closer to 2. These values are highly aggressive to bacteria. When there is food in the stomach, the pH rises and can reach values in the range of 4-5. The latter are less stressful for bacteria. This will increase their survival when passing through the stomach and will optimize their effect.
There are studies in Beneficial Microbes that find that probiotics taken up to 30 minutes after a meal or during a meal survive in much higher numbers than probiotics taken 30 minutes after a meal.
/Probiotics encapsulated in DR (acid resistant) capsules can also be taken on an empty stomach, as these capsules have a delayed release and provide protection for bacteria when passing through the stomach.
Take with high-fat foods. Immediately after that, avoid hot drinks such as tea, coffee, hot water, hot soups.
For dosing, it is advisable to adhere to the prescribed treatment, if you have one, otherwise follow the manufacturer's instructions described in the product leaflet.
4. Taking a probiotic with an antibiotic?
If you are about to be treated with an antibiotic, you also need to arm yourself with a probiotic. The earlier you start taking it, the better. Antibiotic products have a destructive effect on the "good" bacteria in the gastrointestinal microflora. Their absence creates a favorable environment for the development of harmful microorganisms that weaken the immune system, which can lead to other diseases. Probiotics restore the intestinal mucosa, making our body more resistant to any harmful external influences.
It is contraindicated to take the probiotic and the antibiotic at the same time, as the antibiotics will kill the live bacteria and the effect of taking the probiotic will be almost zero.
Take the probiotic product 2-3 hours after the antibiotic. It is advisable to continue the probiotic course for at least one week after stopping the antibiotic.
5. Storage of probiotics.
Always read the instructions on the package before buying a probiotic product - some are stored in the refrigerator, others are not, and it is important to know this. However, although some strains are not sensitive to heat, try to keep the product cool.
It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the shelf life of the probiotic to make sure you are buying a "fresh" product. Usually the term is about 1-2 years. Moving away from the date of production, the number of live bacteria decreases.
In summary, be careful and always read the packaging of the probiotic product when you decide to buy one. If you suffer from diseases or are about to undergo individual treatment, be sure to consult with your doctor about taking probiotics.
Buy durable capsules and watch for the correct intake and dosage.
For more interesting and useful articles related to probiotics and the health of the intestinal flora, follow the Laktina blog, where we will try to be as useful and comprehensive as possible for our readers.
Back